The leader of the National Republican Senatorial Committee approached former Gov. George E. Pataki this week about running for the United States Senate in 2010, according to a person who spoke to Mr. Pataki about the private meeting.

The person confirmed that Mr. Pataki met on Tuesday in New York City with Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican who leads the party’s national Senate campaign committee. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment.

The seat in question will be up for election in 2010. Kirsten E. Gillibrand, a Democrat, was recently appointed to fill it after Hillary Rodham Clinton left to be President Obama’s secretary of state.

Mr. Pataki has not yet accepted or rejected the idea, the person said. Mr. Pataki did not immediately respond to a request for comment at his law office.

(Source: NY Times)